Teoscar Hernandez has begun his road back to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. The outfielder started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, batting third and playing left field against Reno, according to Oklahoma City broadcaster Alex Freedman.
Hernandez, 33, has been sidelined since May 29 with a Grade 1 hamstring strain in his left hamstring, an injury he suffered running to first base against the Colorado Rockies. Before landing on the injured list, the outfielder carried a .276 batting average with seven home runs, 31 RBIs and a .784 OPS across 51 games.
The Dodgers have not seemed to have felt the slugger's absence from the lineup, as the team was the first to 50 wins in a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday, with a 50-29 record in the National League West and the best in the MLB.
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Manager Dave Roberts has said that he expects Hernandez to play four to five games on the assignment, meaning he would be back before the calendar turns to July in time for a series against the Athletics on June 29. The Dodgers are adding extra caution with Hernandez, as a lingering groin issue cut into his production last season.
Hernandez isn't the only Dodger ramping up in Reno. Right-hander Landon Knack, out all season with an intercostal strain, is scheduled to make his first appearance of the year on Wednesday.
If both come through their respective rehab assignments without a setback, the Dodgers could soon get back a proven bat and a rotation depth arm to a roster already pulling away from the rest of the division.
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